Hillary Frank

I knew had to read Hillary Frank's newest release when I asked one of the librarians at my local public library what she'd read recently and been impressed by and she named THE VIEW FROM THE TOP. Coupled with the fact that some of my recent favorites have been books that I had never heard of before, just randomly selecting them from the shelf, I knew that I had to give THE VIEW FROM THE TOP a shot.

I've been reading many wonderful contemporary YA novels lately and I always think that the next one can't possible be better than the last. I've come to the conclusion that I can no longer have a favorite book - I just can't pick only one! I was shocked by how quickly I was pulled into this novel and how deeply I identified with the characters, particularly Anabelle. I understood the characters and their motivations in such an intimate way, which caused an emotional connection to the story, and, I think, provided a more intense reading experience. But, even without this deeper connection, I think I would have loved this novel.

The story is told in alternating POV by the six different characters, each chapter and character beginning where the last left off. I've been reading quite a few novels done in this format and I'm really starting to like it. Seeing situations from more than one POV adds another dimension; it's like going from 2D to 3D. I was worried that having six narrators would be confusing, but this definitely wasn't the case. Each character had a unique voice and a completely different view of the summer... and Anabelle.

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP takes on many different, and sometimes sticky, situations. Some of these situations I've experienced myself, so it's understandable that I identified with those, but I felt a connection to the others as well, which can be only be credited to Frank's fantastic writing. I'll definitely be reading more by Hillary Frank!… (mais)

Lately, I’ve had a streak of really good books, and this particular one I’m blogging about was really engrossing. I began reading it today after checking it out from the public library (along with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Trash by Dorothy Allison) and finished it a few minutes ago; I simply couldn’t put it down. The magnetism of the main character, her passion for art, made me want to share the same exhilaration she felt, the same sense of purpose, of longing. The stark realization that Ellie and Nate’s relationship’s end is strikingly similar to the deterioration of mine. Ellie’s duration of blissful certainty which gradually blurred into hesitance is really akin to mine, and it made the book that much more real. And Ellie’s final acceptance of the faults in her past conscience and wayward reasoning really bring closure by the end of the novel, which was a sigh of relief.… (mais)